The gift is a goodbye gift when they are leaving daycare. I give all my kids that leave a gift. It's usually something they will use - crayons, coloring book, story book, play dough, bubbles etc. never a toy.
I understand what you are saying, although they are still toys IMO and received by the child in their mind as such. Still not something I see as necessary and just not what I do for the reasons outlined above.
Always ensure that your child receives quality care by taking the time to investigate the provider and by asking for references! We simply cannot verify the claims of every daycare provider.
Updates
We expect providers to keep their listing and available openings up-to-date. However, to prevent oversights, openings expire after 45 days.